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Light pollution is a growing problem, but there are still some places in the world where you can experience a pristine night sky. These dark sky places are protected areas that use specific outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution and preserve the night sky as a natural resource. Dark sky places can be found in national parks, rural towns, and even some urban settings. Some examples of places with minimal light pollution include Beverly Shores, Indiana; Hawthorn Woods, Illinois; Horseshoe Bay, Texas; and Flagstaff, Arizona. In addition to the United States, dark sky places can be found in 22 countries across six continents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dark Sky Places | Parks, reserves, sanctuaries, communities, and protected areas |
| Location | 22 countries on 6 continents |
| Goals | Partnerships with universities, nonprofits, community groups, businesses |
| Achievements | Certified lighting products, designs, and installations that reduce light pollution; worked with communities and professionals to establish codes and statutes that reduce light pollution |
| Light pollution | Human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally |
| Light pollution sources | Streetlights, greenhouses, and satellites |
| Light pollution effects | Harmful to humans, wildlife, and the climate |
| Dark Sky Places program | Certifies communities, parks, and protected areas that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education |
| Number of places certified | More than 200 |
| First International Dark Sky City | Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2001 |
| Latest certifications | Saguaro National Park in Arizona; Timpanogos Cave National Monument |
| Stargazing locations | Tri-Cities area of SE Washington; Colorado; Rural Tanzania; Zion National Park in Utah; Canyonlands National Park in Utah; Cape Lookout Lighthouse at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina |
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What You'll Learn
National parks in rural settings
National parks are often located in rural settings, away from urban areas, which makes them ideal for stargazing. Here are some national parks in rural settings that offer incredible opportunities to experience the night sky without light pollution:
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas is one of the most remote places in America. It is known for its breathtaking vistas and hiking trails. With minimal light pollution, it offers visitors the chance to experience a night sky full of stars. Big Bend has begun the process of eliminating all forms of light pollution to enhance the stargazing experience for visitors.
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park, located in southern California, is the largest Dark Sky designated area, spanning over 13,700 square kilometers. The park's salt flats provide excellent viewing locations for stargazers. The annual Dark Sky Festival attracts fellow enthusiasts and features astronomy talks by park rangers.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Joshua Tree National Park, also in southern California, offers some of the darkest nights in the region. Visitors can admire the Milky Way and enjoy stargazing under a relatively dark sky. While the western half of the park is impacted by light pollution from nearby cities, the eastern wilderness area provides a more secluded stargazing experience.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park in Montana is known for its rugged Rocky Mountains and pristine lakes. It shares its International Dark Sky Park title with Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. Visitors can spend the day exploring the park and then stay overnight at one of the campgrounds to enjoy the dazzling sky views.
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park, located in Utah, is one of the state's "Mighty 5" National Parks. The park offers a unique window to the universe, with low humidity, minimal light pollution, and high elevation.
These national parks, located in rural settings across the United States, provide excellent opportunities for stargazing and offer a glimpse into the importance of preserving dark skies for both enjoyment and the natural environment.
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International Dark Sky Places
The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program was created to provide an incentive for communities and protected places to follow Flagstaff, Arizona's example in adopting better lighting and implementing it through effective public policy. The program certifies communities, parks, and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.
Dark Sky International currently offers five types of designations:
- International Dark Sky Communities: These are legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies. An example is the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, which was recognized for its efforts in outdoor lighting policy and retrofits.
- International Dark Sky Parks: Parks are publicly or privately owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors. Examples include Joshua Tree National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Saguaro National Park, which earned certification as an Urban Night Sky Place in 2023.
- International Dark Sky Reserves: These consist of a dark "core" zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core. An example is Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which spans the border between the US and Canada.
- International Dark Sky Sanctuaries: Sanctuaries are the most remote and darkest places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile.
- Urban Night Sky Places: These places are recognized for their efforts to educate the public on the benefits of proper outdoor lighting that ensures safety while minimizing potential harm to the natural nighttime environment. An example is Timpanogos Cave National Monument, which received its designation in 2020.
The IDSP program has certified more than 200 places since its inception in 2001, with over 160,000 square kilometers of protected land and night skies in 22 countries on 6 continents. These places protect ecologically sensitive areas and the universal heritage of the starry night sky, requiring the use of quality outdoor lighting and effective policies to reduce light pollution.
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Dark Sky Friendly Development
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It has harmful effects on humans, wildlife, and the climate. Sources of light pollution include streetlights, greenhouses, and satellites. To combat this, DarkSky International has developed the Dark Sky Friendly Development of Distinction certification program. This program recognises subdivisions, planned communities, and neighbourhoods whose planning actively promotes a more natural night sky. The award was designed to garner community support for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.
The program promotes the use of sensitive outdoor lighting to preserve the environment from unnecessary light at night, including light trespass, glare, and sky glow. DarkSky International also works with communities and professionals to establish codes and statutes that reduce light pollution. They inform the public about the harmful effects of excessive artificial light and provide guidance on choosing better outdoor lighting.
DarkSky International also offers a monthly membership called "Nighthawk" for those who want to show their love for starry skies and support the organisation's initiatives. The organisation has also certified more than 200 places as International Dark Sky Places, which are communities, parks, and protected areas that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. These sites include Flagstaff, Arizona, the first International Dark Sky City named in 2001, and Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas.
Additionally, DarkSky International partners with universities, nonprofits, community groups, and businesses to accomplish its goals. They also certify lighting products, designs, and installations that reduce light pollution, and work with communities and governments to prioritise night sky protection and quality outdoor lighting. Through these efforts, DarkSky International aims to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution.
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Urban Dark Sky Places
Light pollution is a human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It has harmful effects on humans, wildlife, and our climate. To combat this, DarkSky International has created the International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) program, which certifies communities, parks, and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.
The IDSP program was created to incentivize communities and protected places to follow in the footsteps of Flagstaff, Arizona, the first International Dark Sky City, designated in 2001. Since then, over 200 places have been certified, encompassing more than 160,000 square kilometers of protected land and night skies in 22 countries across six continents.
The program has expanded to include categories such as Dark Sky Communities and Urban Night Sky Places, bridging the gap between cities and protected areas. Urban Dark Sky Places are locations within or near urban centers that have implemented effective lighting policies and public education to reduce light pollution and protect the night sky.
Some examples of Urban Dark Sky Places include:
- Bee Cave, Texas, where developments must comply with the 5 Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
- Beverly Shores, Indiana, located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan east of Chicago.
- Big Park, Arizona, also known as the Village of Oak Creek.
- Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, an IUCN Category IV habitat/species management area of 290,000 hectares.
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Stargazing in Colorado
Colorado is a great destination for stargazing. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, in particular, is a certified International Dark Sky Park. This certification means that the park prioritises preserving the night sky by using light pollution-conscious outdoor lighting, offering nighttime public access, and providing education and resources about the night skies. The park is distinct because of its marbled, steep and narrow canyon walls that frame the Gunnison River. The remote location, far from cities and towns, makes it a top-notch stargazing spot.
The North and South Rims and East Portal all provide stargazing spots in the Black Canyon. The North Rim usually sees fewer visitors and is a prime place for stargazing. The South Rim has 12 overlooks that are accessible by car, and the overlooks furthest away from the road and the light of headlights will provide the best visibility. You can also stargaze at East Portal, but you will not be able to see as much of the sky since it’s at the bottom of the canyon.
AstroFest is an annual festival held at Black Canyon National Park, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, and Curecanti National Recreation Area, dedicated to preserving the night sky along the Gunnison River corridor. Events include stargazing, daytime astronomy, nocturnal wildlife talks, and constellation mapping. Curecanti National Recreation Area is also an International Dark Sky Park and is one of the best places for stargazing in Gunnison.
If you are planning to go stargazing in Colorado, it is recommended that you check sunrise and moonrise times to plan the most advantageous times to stargaze. Temperatures can dip at night, even in summer, so be sure to wear warm layers. Bring a headlamp or flashlight with a red light setting to preserve night vision, and consider bringing binoculars or a telescope to see more of the night sky. Bring a chair or blanket so you have a comfortable place to view the sky from, and a star map or download an app to help you understand the night sky better and locate celestial bodies.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several places that have been certified as Dark Sky Places by DarkSky International. These include:
- National parks in both urban and rural settings, such as Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, Zion National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
- Towns and communities like Flagstaff, Arizona, Beverly Shores, east of Chicago, Hawthorn Woods, an hour northwest of downtown Chicago, and Horseshoe Bay, an hour from Texas Hill Country.
Dark Sky Places are communities, parks, and protected areas that aim to preserve and protect the night sky as a natural resource. These places are required to use quality outdoor lighting and implement effective policies and practices to reduce light pollution.
You can use the Dark Sky Place finder on the DarkSky International website to search by name, type, or location. As of August 2020, there are Dark Sky Places in 22 countries on 6 continents.
